In an interview with RT’s Rick Sanchez in Tehran on Tuesday, Araqchi argued that “there is no solution but a diplomatic solution,” adding that technology and progress cannot be destroyed through bombings and military threats, which have fueled Tehran’s mistrust of Washington.
“We still do not have full trust in Americans,” he said. “We were in the middle of negotiations last June when they decided to attack us. That was a very bad experience for us.”
Araqchi stressed that Iran’s uranium enrichment program is strictly peaceful and rooted in the country’s sovereign rights. He said enrichment levels depend on civilian needs, noting that power reactors require enrichment below 5%, while the Tehran Research Reactor – built by the US before the 1979 revolution – uses 20% enriched fuel to produce medical isotopes for cancer treatment.
“The figures are not important… What matters is the peaceful nature of enrichment,” Araqchi said. He added that Iran is prepared to offer guarantees that it will not pursue nuclear weapons, calling such assurances “doable and achievable” if there is goodwill on both sides.
At the same time, the foreign minister ruled out negotiations on Iran’s ballistic missile program or its regional alliances, saying those issues are unrelated to the nuclear file. “We only negotiate about our nuclear program with the US,” he said, describing other demands as “absolutely” off the table.
Araqchi made clear that Iran is ready for confrontation if diplomacy collapses. “We are prepared for a diplomatic solution as much as we are prepared to defend ourselves against any new aggression,” he said, adding that Iran’s military readiness has improved both “quantity-wise and quality-wise” since last year’s Israeli-US bombing.
Araqchi was sharply critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, describing him as a “warmonger” who has repeatedly tried to drag Washington into a wider war with Iran. If attacked again, he warned, Iran would strike US assets and bases across the region.
Despite the tensions, Araqchi said his recent discussions with US interlocutors suggested an interest in avoiding war. “If they are serious, we are serious too,” he said, adding that the responsibility now lies with Washington to provide guarantees that negotiations will not again be accompanied by military action.
“We have learned our lessons on war and diplomacy,” Araqchi said. “Now we are prepared for both.”